Cargo barge cover



Aug. 17, 1965 w GOWAN, SR

CARGO BARGE COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1964 R m N w mMLL/IPFE GOWfi/V, .92.

Aug. 17, 1965 Filed June 11, 1964 W. E- GOWAN, SR

CARGO BARGE COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

INVENTOR. WILL/7RD EGOWfl/V, 5m

I BY United States Patent 3,200,784 CARGO BARGE COVER Willard E. Gowan,Sn, Arnold, Mo., assignor to St. Louis Shipbuilding-Federal Barge, Inc.,St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed June 11, 1964, Ser. No.374,350 6 Claims. ((11. 114-201) This invention relates to cargo bargecovers and is particularly concerned with an improved cover constructionfor cargo barges.

Cargo barges for packaged and bulk cargos require coverage against waterdamage from wave action and rain while being shipped. Protection hasheretofore been provided by removable metal covers of the rolling typein which low sections of the cover pass under high sections, or coversof the lift-off type which can be stacked for loading and unloading thehold. Usually the covers have been constructed of flat sheets or platesreinforced on the underside by angle and channel stiffeners to affordnecessary strength.

In the aforementioned constructions the covers have had satisfactorystructural characteristics, but the stiffeners present ledges andsurfaces which can accumulate duct, dirt and foreign matter. Such mattermay be coal dust, sulphur powder, grain, phosphate rock and kindredmaterial which is left over from previous lading. In the handling of therolling or lift-off covers, bumping or jarring displaces the accumulatedmaterials on the ledges and horizontal surfaces so that the material isdis lodged to fall into the cargo space to contaminate other cargos.Contamination results in expensive damage claims by shippers againstbarge operators.

Attempts have been made to overcome the foregoing problems byconstructing covers with the structural stilfeners on the outside toprovide smooth inside surfaces, but such covers make it clifiicult toremove spilled cargos or dispose of snow and ice.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved cargo coverin which accumulations of foreign materials are reduced or eliminated.

It is an object of this invention to provide cover means having aminimum of structure for easy cleaning and elimination of surfaces whichcan present places for foreign materials to collect.

Another object of the invention is to provide covers having aself-supporting corrugated construction so that internal as well asexternal stiffener-s may be selected to avoid surfaces capable ofcollecting contaminating materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique corrugated typecover construction having pain and snow run-off slopes of such form thatsimple self-clearing stiffeners can be utilized to maintain strength.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a barge hopper coverof corrugated form with rain run-off slopes in opposite directions froma bend in the corrugations running transversely of the corrugations andto strengthen the cover at the bend by members secured to the crests andvalleys to constitute a truss giving the cover great strength withminimum weight and number of components.

A presently preferred embodiment of the present invention is exemplifiedby corrugated cover plates having a 32%,784 Patented Aug. 17, 1965central longitudinal crimp which is reinforced by longitudinal membersset at the crimp to maintain continuity of strength both longitudinallyand transversely, such members being disposed inside and outside and inpositions for easy inspection and cleaning. In the preferred embodimentthe stifleners .are free of surfaces which can accumulate foreignmaterials, thereby avoiding the hazards of cargo contamination.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bemore particularly described in connect-ion with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a barge having cover sections of thehigh and low rolling type, the view showing the general arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side elevational view of the barge seen in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken atline 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken atline 4-4 in FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the cover showingfurther details thereof along line 5-5 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of two adjacent covers inclosed relationship.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 9 indicates the barge hull to which the novel coverassembly is applied. The barge hull has a lad-ing space or hopperindicated in out-line by the dash line 10. Internal dividing bulkheads(not shown) may be utilized to divide or sectionalize the hopper space,or the hopper may be entirely open as shown. The cover assembly of thisinvention is seen to include a series of cover sections, those shown at11, 12, 13 and 14 being the high sections, and those shown at 15, 16, 17and 18 being the low sections which are sufficiently smaller so as topass beneath the high sections. The covers are mounted on rollers (aswill be described presently) so that they may be moved longitudinally toexpose the hopper lti for loading and unloading cargo. For example,cover 15 may be moved under cover 11, and cover 16 under cover 12,thereby opening the hopper in the area normally closed by covers and 16.Also, the covers may be rolled all to the bow or stern to open at leasthalf of the hopper, or any portion of the hopper may be opened along thelength thereof by other arrangements of the covers, all as is understoodin this art.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the cover section 17 consists in a plateor sheet of corrugated form in which crests 19 and valleys 20 alternateacross the width. Th corrugations are directed transversely of the bargehull length to provide stiffness in that direction and to avoid sag. Thecorrugated cover 17 is also formed with rain run-off slopes in oppositedirections from a longitudinal center line, and in order to form theslopes the corrugations in the valleys 20 must be crimped or formed toallow the sheet to be sloped as required. In forming the slope in acorrugated sheet structural discontinuity results so that the slopedsheet is Weaker after the bending or forming operation.

The present improvement is intended to overcome the weakening ofcorrugated sheets when formed intermediate the length thereof to provideoppositely directed sloping surfaces. It is also intended to permit theuse of unitary sheets of .a length to span the width of the barge hopper10, thereby making covers more economical and stronger. In the formingof corrugated cover 17 (FIGS. 3 and 4), the point 19A is the ridge linefrom which the sheet slopes in opposite directions. To obtain the slope,the valleys 20 must be crimped at 29A, and the sides 21 of the valleymust be crimped, but in a progressively diminishing or tapered form 21Atoward the ridge point 19A. The result of the crimping operationproduces a uniform crimp ZtiA in the flat portion of the valley as, andtapered crimps 21A in the sloping sides 21 of the valley.

' The crirn-ps 20A and 21A result in structural discontinuity in thecover at each of the crimps MA and 21A which would allow the cover tosag. In order to stabilize the cover with the desired run-off slope, thestructural continuity over the crimp is restored by fixing a member 22in the crimp, the member 22 being formed of bar stock to fit into thecrimp 20A. Welds 23 are used to secure the member 22 in place so thatthe structure of the valley 29 will transmit tension stress directlythrough the member 22, thereby avoiding the tendency of the crimp toflatten out. The use of a suitable length of stock for member 22 willadd to the strength of the cover in bending perpendicularly to thedirection of the corrugations. Additional strength is obtained bysecuring an external ridge member 24 over the ridge points 19A at thecorrugation crests. The ridge member 24 may be a downwardly open channelhaving the side flanges toe-welded at 25 to the surfaces of the crests1? so that the two parts work together. Thus, the several covers arecomposed of continuous side-to-side cover sheets of corrugated shape insection, with rain and water run-off slopes formed :by crimps 25A and21A, and structural continuity over the crimps by the interior barmember 22 and exterior ridge member 24 secured to the sheets to providea truss member supporting the sloped condition of the cover. Each cover11 to 18 is essentially the same, except for dimensional differencesbetween the high covers 11 to 14 and the low covers 15 to 13.-

In FIG. 6, a high and a low cover are shown in perspective, such forexample as the high cover 14 and low cover 18 of FIG. 6. In practice thecover sheets are usually of plate-like thickness so that the usualcorrugating operation is not practical. In place of the usual formingoperation, the covers may be made up of a plurality of strips of stock,the strips including a crest 19, two slopes 2]; and half of the adjacentvalleys 20, the valleys are connected by welding along the seams 2d.

The high cover 14, has its outer end supported on a beam made up of anouter angle plate 27 and an inner angle plate 28 joined in such a mannerthat the narrow angle flange 27A of the outer angle 2'7 provides thesurface to receive the cover 14. The narrow angle flange 28A of theinner plate 23 is turned out to abut plate 27 and thereby form a boxbeam. Suitable rollers 29 are mounted in the box beam and are free toride on rail 36 which is carried on a support 31 which is part of thehull structure, as for example the above deck coaming which is anextension of the below deck hopper walls. The rail 36 and support 31 arespaced above the deck 32 and support rollers 29, as seen in FIGS. 2 and6.

Now referring to FIG. 6, it can be understood that the ends of thecorrugation crests 19 are raised above the angle flange 27A so that aseries of openings under the cover result. Such openings are closed bywelding or securing cover elements consisting of specially formed plateshaving a main portion 33 and opposite triangular wings 34 bent toconform with the slope of the sides 21 of the valleys 2d.

The low cover 1% shown in FIG. 6 is also supported on a box beam alongits opposite ends. Each such beam (one being seen) includes an outerangle plate 35 with an upper internal angle flange 35A. An inner angleplate (not shown) cooperates with the outer plate 35 to support rollers,such as roller 34' riding on rail 37. Also, the ends of the crests 19for cover 18 are closed by cover elements 33, just as for cover 1-4.

The opposite side of cover 14 is shown in FIG. 5 from the interior sothat the angle plate 28 has its angle flange 23A turned out. The outerangle plate 27 has its angle flange 27A turned in. This view of cover 14is intended to show that the corrugated cover 14 (and the same would betrue for cover 18) would normally form pockets on top of the angleflange 27A and within the exterior end covers 33, 34. To avoid this, aseries of interior baffle plates 38 are secured in place to block offthe pockets and make a clean interior surface without places forcontaminating materials to collect. Each baflie plate 38 is for-medwit-h .a center rectangular portion and opposite end triangular wings38A shaped to closely lit the contour of the sides 21 and crest 19 ofthe corrugated plates. Thus, the corrugations in the Zones of thesupporting box beams 27, 35 are exteriorly closed over at the ends bycovers 33 and blocked off by internal baffles 33.

It can be appreciated that the present cover construction has greatsimplicity in that each cover is corrugatedto give it initial rigidityand self-supporting ability, and can be given a water run-01f slopewithout loss of structural integrity by combining simple members withthe corrugations in the form of a truss at the zone of loss of strength.Also, the use of exterior cover elements 33 and interior baffles 38gives the assembly freedom from contamination of cargos. It is alsonoted that the bar 22 is set on edge in the crimp MBA and does notpresent a flat surface on which foreign matter can lodge.

While the improvement hereof has been shown in a preferred form, itshould now be appreciated that modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and it is desired to coverall modifi cations falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cargo barge having a hopper for cargo to be transported therein,the improvement of a cargo protection cover for the hopper comprisingcorrugated sheet material having crests and valleys and a bend in thesheet perpendicular to the crests and valleys, said bend being definedby a series of crimps in the valleys constituting a structuraldiscontinuity in the under side of said cover and allowing the sheetmaterial to slope off in opposite directions for rain run off, and apair of members secured to said sheet at said bend and to the crests andvalleys, one of said members being secured to said crimps to restore thestructural continuity caused by said crimps, and said members togetherwith said crests and valleys constituting a truss structurallysupporting said sheet transversely of the direction of the corrugations.

2. The improvement set forth in claim 1, wherein the other of saidmembers is secured to the crests on the outer surface of said cover,said members being in spaced parallel relationship with said covermaterial disposed there between and said members and cover materialforming said truss.

3. A cover for a cargo hopper comprising a pair of support membersadjacent two opposite sides of the hopper, a cover sheet having itsopposite ends supported on said support members and being formedintermediate said ends with a ridge directed parallel to said supportmembers and elevated above said ends for rain run off, said cover sheetbeing formed with corrugationsdirected transversely of said supportmembers, said corrugations having crests and valleys which at said ridgeare formed with crimps in said valleys and bends in said crests, andmeans secured to said cover sheet along the ridge to structurallysupport and stifiTen said cover sheet, said structural means including amember secured in said crimps to restore structural continuity in saidvalleys across said crimps.

4. The cover set forth in claim 3, wherein said structural means alsoincludes a second member secured to said crests, said member secured tosaid crimps and to said crests forming with said corrugations a trussbeam.

5. A corrugated sheet having alternate flat crests and References Citedby the Examiner valleys joined by slanting sides, crimps formed in saidflat UNITED STATES PATENTS valleys and extending into said slantingsides to allow 2 008 640 7/65 F bending said sheet transversely of thecorrugations for In J mser 2,330,819 10/43 Faure et a1.

forming oppositely directed slopes, said crunps causlng 2,853,131 9/58Kummerman 114-201 X structural discontlnulty in said sheet, and a membersecured in said crimps to restore structural continuity in FOREIGNATENTS said valleys across said crimps. 14,623 1928 Australia.

6. The corrugated sheet set forth in claim 5, wherein 1,322,992 2/ 63France. said crirnps have two angularly related faces and said 10 memberis a bar having surfaces seated against said two MILTON BUCHLER: PrimaryExammerfaces. ANDREW FARRELL, Examiner.

1. IN A CARGO BARGE HAVING A HOPPER FOR CARGO TO BE TRANSPORTED THEREIN,THE IMPROVEMENT OF A CARGO PROTECTION COVER FOR THE HOPPER COMPRISINGCORRUGATED SHEET MATERIAL HAVING CRESTS AND VALLEYS AND A BEND IN THESHEET PERPENDICULAR TO THE CRESTS AND VALLEYS, SAID BEND BEING DEFINEDBY A SERIES OF CRIMPS IN THE VALLEYS CONSTITUTING A STRUCTURALDISCONTINUITY IN THE UNDER SIDE OF SAID COVER AND ALLOWING THE SHEETMATGERIAL TO SLOPE OFF IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FOR RAIN RUN OFF, AND APAIR OF MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID SHEET AT SAID BEND AND TO THE CRESTS ANDVALLEYS, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING SECURED TO SAID CRIMPS TO RESTORE THESTRUCTURAL CONTINUITY CAUSED BY SAID CRIMPS, AND SAID MEMBERS TOGETHERWITH SAID CRESTS AND VALLEYS CONSTITUTING A TRUSS STRUCTURALLYSUPPORTING SAID SHEET TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF THE CORRUGATIONS.